Well-testing tool



Patented Apr. 1 9, 1927.

- UNITED STATES.

, CONRAD T. MIJAS, TEXAS.

WELL-TESTING roer...

Application led February 14, 1927. Serial No. 167,910.

This invention relates to rotary well tools and equipment and it has particular reference to'a new and useful tool designed Vfor the purpose of obtaining tests of sands and mineral strata principally in drilling oil wells, and its chief object resides in the provision of equipment by which to determine the nature and characteristics of the strata encountered, and whether `or not it possesses such valuel as to justify the installation of casing.

The invention further comprehends tool of the character designated which may be substituted for the drill bit, in cases where sand tests are required, and lowered into the hole without the usual waste of time and otherwise expensive procedure of setting up casing,- the latter notinfrequently proving to be of no value whatever.

`Another object of the invention resides in the provision of `a double seat, their joint function being positively effectivev in' shutting off all Huid tending to rise above the tool, vand forcing the same to pass through the tool into the drill pipe, there to be trapped and used as a sample. 4 Yet another object of the invention resides in its apparent simplicity of construction and operation, its operative parts being but few and those subjected to wear being capable of interchangeability when neces--` sary. j Y- Vith these foremost objects lin view, lthe invention hasfurther reference to its salient advantages not heretofore setl forth,

features of construction and operation of parts, as well as certain other objects, and `which will bel manifested in the following detail description and illustrated inthe accompa-v nyingdrawings, wherein Y Figure 1 represents a side'elevational view of the invention in operative position within a well, shown in axial cross-section,and.

Figure 2 isa side elevational view in a similar position.,

Proceeding now more in detail with the drawing, it may be first stated for the purpose of setting out in a-comprehensive manner the specific improvement contemplated, that heretofore, when a driller encounters what appears to be pay sand he isirst required to pull the drill pipeassembly, re-enter the hole with alsmaller'bit to create al shoulder therein to support a string of casing, which is in turn run'into ythe hole. The

drill pipe is-then used for washing the sand,

and during the process of making such a test,

the drill pipe assembly is required to be removed in order to bail out the well. A tubl ing assembly`is usually substituted for the drill pipe, having a working barrel attached in which is contained a valve assembly. In addition tol the equipment described, the usual sucker rodY assembly is necessary to pump the fluid to the ground surface for a test. Should the test prove of no consequence, drilling to a greater depth must be resumed.

Referrlng now particularly to Figure) 1 of the drawings, the invention is shown as being provided with a. valve casing 1 eX- ternally threaded to the head 2, which, in turn 1s threadedly attached to the drill stem i assembly, not shown.

The valve casing 1 is provided with interior threads near its lower end for the purpose of supporting the valve head 3, through which slides the valve stem 4, the latter having a central ange 5 into which is threaded the ends of. a series of connecting pins 6. These pinspass unrestrictedly through the valve stem guide 7 and while thelatter isshown as a single piece, it is of course apparent that its reduced lower end may be detachable if desired to simplify assembly.

As apparent in Figure 1, the valve stem if is supplied with expansion rings 7a for the purpose of maintaining a constant friction on the inner surface of the valve head 3, to take 'up all possible wear, and further to lprovide, for the substitution of parts should the wear render the same ,impractical for further use. Moreover, the top of the valve stem 4l is inwardly deflected as a precaution against the accumulation of sand or other such substance thereabove.

The pins 6, are bolted at their lower ends .to a'bushing 8 surrounding the lower end ofl shoulder a of the valve guide 7 and bushing 8 is a compressible annular cushion 9, 'to which reference will be later made duringa description of operation.

Surrounding the bushing 8 is a conical shaped member 10, composed preferably of ber, or an equivalent material vof tough consistency and capable of 'considerable hard usage, since this member is subjected to great strain. The cone 10 is held against displacement by a1 coupling 11, threaded-upon the lower end of the valve guide 7, and further provides a connection for the perforated sections of pipe or anchor l2.

In operation', a shoulder b is formed in the hole, usually by the use of a small drill bit, after which the invention is substituted for the drill bit by screwing the neck 13 therein, much in the saine manner as a drill bit. The tool is then lowered into the hole until the cone l strikes the shoulder Z1'.

The resiliency of the cone together with the yieldability of the earthen shoulder b iorms a packing practically impenetrable by the iuid and sand below the shoulder.

The entire weight ot the drill stem-assembly is imposed upon the tool, andy consequently upon the cone l0, forcing the latter upward against the enlargement of thebushing 8 to compress the cushion 9, which is caused to seekspace beyond the periphery of the tool body, and the fluid, if any, rising by reason ot an improper seating of the cone l0 is constrained against passage by the bulging otl the cushion 9 against the well wall. This forms a double packing as a precaution against escape of any fluid above the tool.

Compression of the annularl cushion 9, permits the pins 6 to be urged upward by reason of the upward sliding of the cone and bushing, hence causing the valve stem 4l to slide within the valve head 3. The ports let in the valve are therefore caused to register Pwith those in the head, consequently creating a free passage for the fluid and sand through the ports in the pipe l2 upward to a level above the valve head, where it is entrapped by an upward movement of the tool, since the weight ot the sliding members, aided by the resistance of the cushion 9, is such as to return the cone and valve stem 4 to their normal inoperative positions.

The tool may be elevated to the ground surface, and a test made ot' the sand trapped within the drill pipe above the tool.

VShould the test prove the strata to be of no value, it is necessary only to substitute the drill forthe invention, lower into the hole and resume the drilling operation, preparatory to another test, without the usual waste of time encountered as hereinbefore set forth.

It will be observed that by the use of the sliding valve 4, adherence of substances to the walls of the valve head is positively prevented, which might otherwise render the valve inoperative for the purposes intended as in most types ot valves used in a similar manner. This feature is augmented by reason of the deflected upper end of the valve stem. rlhe valve stem is further rendered leak proof, as a preventive against seeping back into the hole the fluid entrapped above the valve, by the interpositioning of packing rings intermediate and on either side of the valve ports, as shown.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable variation, and such variation as is in keeping with the appended claims is considered within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A sand testing tool including a body containing a valve head and a sliding valve therein, each having ports adapted to register; a relatively stationary guide for said valve; a conical seating member below said valve and operatively connected therewith; an annular compressible cushion intermediate said valve and seating member to yield to the movement of the latter to register said ports, and means to permit passage of Huid through said ports to be trapped above the valve when closed.

2. A sand testing tool including a valve head and sliding valve confined within a casing, each having ports; a conical Seating .member below said casing arranged to restrict. the passage of fluid exteriorly of the latter, and operably connected with said valve; a coinpressible cushion disposed intermediate said valve and seating member adapted to vyield to the movement of the latter when seated to register said ports, and means to permit ingress ot' sand and fluid to thereby entrap the same above said` valve.

3. A well testing tool including a valve head and sliding valve confined within a casing, each having ports; a conical seating member below said casing capable of limited.

movement relative thereto and having operable connection with said valve; a compressible member intermediate said valve and seating member yielding to the action of the latter when seated to aline \the ports ,in said valve head and valve, and means to permit the ingress of iiuid into said tool to be trapped above said valve when released.

fl. A well testing tool including a valve head and valve confined within a casing, each having ports capable ot' alinement; a seating member below said casing having operable connection with said valve and arranged to' move 'when seated to effect alinement of said ports; a compressible member interposed between said valve and seating member adapted to yield to the movement of the latter when seated, and means to permit of the entrance ot fluid to permit the saine to pass above the valve and be thereby trapped. when the valve is released.

5; A well testing tool comprising a valve head and valve, each having ports capable of alinement; a movable seating member having operable connection with said valve whereby to actuate the same to eil'ectalinement of saidports when moved; a compressible member arranged 4intermediate lll) mame@ said vvalve and seating member to yield tot the movementV of thelatter, and a perforated fluid receiving pipe below said seating member.

ble of limited movement and operably con- A 10 'nected with -sad valve; the body of said 6. An apparatus o the character demember being substantially cone shaped; means to cause upward movement of said member to aline the ports in said valve head and valve,' and means to permit the passage of fluid, through said ports to entrap the 15 same above said valvel when the latter is closed.

In testimony whereofl alx my signature.

CONRAD T. NErTzEL. 

